Apparatus for grouping commodity-containing units for packaging



M. FOGDE AND L. P. SOUTHWICK.

APPARATUS FOR GROUPING COMMODITY CONTAINING UNITS FOR PACKAGING.APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, I919 RENEWED SEPT.2I, I92l.

1,402,223, A Patented Jan. 3, 1922,

2 SHEETSSHEET T.

V a i 10 521 J g g s BYfiz 87166 $500761? A7 M.

ATTORNEYS M. FOGDE AND L. P. SOUTHWICK. APPARATUS FOR GROUPING COMMODITYCONTAINING UNITS FOR PACKAGING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1919. RENEWED SEPT.2I, 192].

SHEET 2.

commodity i? "FTS MATHIAS FOG-DE AND LAWRENCE P. SOUTHWICK, OF RICHMOND,VIRGINIA ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO STOKES &' SMITH COMPANY, OF

rear users,

PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR GBOUPING COMMODITY-CONTAININQ UNITS FOR PACKAGING.

Application filed May 23, 1919, Serial No. 299,287.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, MATHIAS Focus and LAWRENCE P. SOUTHWICK,respectively a subject of the Government of Russia and-a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Richmond, in the county ofv Henrico and Stateof Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forGrouping Commodity-Containing Units for Packaging, of which thefollowing is a specification. This invention relates to improvements inthe grouping of commodity containing units for packaging purposes, beinga continuation in part of our companion application filed November 27th,1918, Serial No. 264,335.

It is the general practice in packaging containing units, such forinstance, as packages of cigarettes, etc, to locate the units inrows'with each row having a predetermined number of such units. Forinstance, one form of package utilized in the cigarette trade containsten units arranged in two rows of five units each, the ten units beingplaced in a packaging container which may be in the form of a carton.

While the present invention is capable of use in various relations, itis especially designed for the packaging of units containingtobacco'products,,and in describing the invention the description willbe based more particularly upon this use; and in this-connection theinvention may not be considered as applicable for use in connection withthe apparatus disclosed in the prior patent granted 7 to us October23rd, 1917, No. 1,244,488.- The present invention, when applied to themachine of the patent, serves to avoid handling of the units whichreceive their final treatment in the apparatus of the patent, andthereby decreases the cost of packaging through the fact that handlingof units is reduced to a minimum as a preliminary to their being.positioned within a carton. I

In explanatiom'itwmay be noted that the apparatus of the patent referredto is de signed to apply the "revenue stamps to the individual units ofthe package, and in producing this result, the apparatus operatesconcurrently upon a plurality of such units, these units thus beingoperated upon being considered as a charge for the apparatusSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 11922. Renewed September 21, 1921. Serial No. 502,179

made to be of a predetermined number, of units, ten for instance, in theapparatus disclosed in the patent, the units of the charge beingarranged 'on an intermittently movable support, with the units insubstantial alignment, the general arrangement being such that the lineof units is seated on one of the unit ends, the stamp being applied tothe opposite end of the unit which forms the upper face of the charge,adjacent units having their side edges in proximity or in contact, sothat the front and rear faces of each unit are exposed when in rowformation. Without describing the detailed operation of the apparatus ofthe patent, attention may be called to the fact that the charge of thistype is first located in a position to receive the individual stamps onthe upper end faces of the upstanding units, after which the charge isbodily advanced out of the path of movement of the stamp applyingmechanism to a position where a supplemental mechanism is operated tocarry the ends of the stamp downward into contact with the front andrearfaces of each unit, this operation being provided while the units are intheir charge formation. One form of supplemental mechanism for thispurpose is disclosed in the patent, and another form is disclosed in theapplication, Serial-No. 264,335, above identified: In each case, thecharge remains on its support until the application of the individualstamps to the several units is completed, after which the charge isshifted from the support, the said companion application disclosing apreferred way in which this shifting-action is produced, this being hadby the use of a plunger having a length to be concurrently operative onall of the units of the charge, the plunger movements being arranged soas to cause the charge to be shifted in a direction transverse to thedirection of advance of the charge support, the units remain ng in theirupended position during the shifting action.

The prcsentinvcntion becomes operative with thislateral shifting of thecharge, and has for its purpose the grouping of the charge units intothe row formations which the units are to have in the carton, thlsresult being obtained by practically reta1n to cause the automaticsegregation of the number of units which are designed to form a row inthe carton from the charge row, and thus make it a simple matter for theoperator to position the row within the carton without individualpacking of units,

that the charge row carries a number of units sufficient for two of thecarton rows, so that in the forming of groups, the action automaticallyproduces more than a single row of the units for the package. Otherobjects of the invention are to provide a construction which is simpleand eflicient in operation, durable in construction,

and which can be manufactured 'and installed at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understoodas the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists inthe improved construction ax d combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts in each of" the views,

Fig. 1, is a, vertical sectional View of a portion of astampingapparatus with the one form of our present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of part shown in Fig. 1.

F ig, 3, is a sectional view showing a different form of the presentinvention applied in position.

Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the structure of Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5, is a perspective view showing one arrangement of units in acarton. I

In the drawings, 10 indicates a portion of the frame of a stampingapparatus, 11 indicating a support for the charge units, this supportbeing shown as in the form of a belt or endless carrier carryingprojections 11 between which the units of a charge are positioned, theseunits being indicated at a and shown as arranged with their side'edgesin contact.

In Figures 2 and 4 we have shown ten units as forming the charge, thelatter being located opposite the face of a plunger closed in thecompanionapplication, Serial No. 264,335 in. which this operatingstructure is more particularly claimed. We have also shown, in Fig. 1,fragments ofthe structure employed in applying the ends of the stamps tothe opposite faces of the units, this structure also being claimed inthe said application. And in Figs. 1 and 3, we have shown an end view ofa unit in position on the support 11 ready to be shifted therefrom bythe moving of plunger 12 toward the left in Figs. 1 to 4.

' As will be understood, for instance, from Fig. 2, this moving of theplunger toward the left shifts the entire 'row of ten units in adirection transverse to the direction of advance of thesupport-indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4--on to the upper face of frame10, thus leaving the top of support 11 free from the charge, the suport, if an endless band frame, then gradua ly reaching the positionwhere it receives another charge. The length of movement of plunger 12is sufficient to carry a charge row off its support and sufficientlybeyond the latter to permit of the operation of the stamp applyingstructure of Fig. 1 on the succeeding charge row, the movement, forinstance, may -be sufiicient to place the-charge row either director bystage movement as pres ently described, in the position shown by unit 6in Fig. 1, in position under a suitable yielding element 13, the plungerreturning to permit of the positioning of the succeedin" charge in stampapplying position,

Vhere the movement to position b is provided by stages, the shiftingmovement pro-.

vided by the plunger wouldplace the char e row at a point in advance ofthis position whereupon theshifting of the succeeding charge would thenplace the charge in the position of unit I). i It will be understood, ofcourse, that as each charge is shifted later-, "ally it advances thepreviously shifted charges accordingly, and where the arrangement ofFigs. 1 and 2 is employed, the element 13 tends to prevent returnmovement of these shifted charge units.

14 designates the table secured to frame 10 in suitable manner and on towhich the shifted rows of units are delivered-by this successive actionof plunger 12. As heretofore referred to, this shifting of units byplunger 12 operates to shiftall the units of the charge concurrently, sothat in the particular instance shown, each plunger movement serves todeliver a row of ten units on to table 14:. However, it is not desirableto supply the trade with packages of'the length such as would berequired where the number of units in a row is ten. For this reason, itis the general practice to provide rows of five units each, and toproduce this result, the charge units are divided int two groups, thisresult being obtained by locating a finger 15 or other suitable deviceat a point on the table and extending above a top plane thereof oppositethe point where the group division of units should take place within therow. As a result, the shifting of the charge causes the five units oneach side of the finger to be shifted into separate compartments of thetable, the row formation of a group being maintained, the successiverows delivered gradually building up an accumulation on the upper faceof the table as shown for instance in Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, provision is madefor shiftable supporting abutments for the advanced row of theaccumulation of this compartment, this being in the form of a member 16having a projecting portion 16 extending through a slot at the bottom ofcompartment, member 16 being movable on a rod 17 below the table. Bymeans of a weight 18 or other suitable structure, member 16 is caused tomove toward the front of the slot whenever a row of units is removed,and moves toward the rear of the slot as the accumulation increases.

The frameshown in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed for use where a group row isplaced in a carton manually, and to permit of this being quickly done,it is advantageous to so arrange a row relative to other rows as topermit its ready withdrawal from the accumulation bodily. In the frameshown in these views, this result is obtained by a combination of twofeatures, one feature being to give the table top a configuration at anintermediate point such as will tend to cant each row as it passes overthis portion of the table, so that the most advanced rows of theaccumulation. will extend in directions in clined to the vertical andthus provide a sort of step appearance at the top of the accumulation,as indicated in Fig. 1, thus practically exposing the front and rearface portions at'the top of the units of the most advanced row in amanner to permit an operator to readily grasp the entire row byspreading the fingers, the row being lifted, from position and placedbodily within the carton or container. The other feature is one whichdeals moreparticularly with the ends of the rows, and this is providedby locating these portions of the table top on which the accumulationsrest on two diiferent planes, one above the other, as shown, forinstance, in Fig. 1. As a result, the rows which pass over that portionof the table located above finger 15 in Fig. 2 will be on a higher planethan those which pass over the portion of the table below said finger insaid view, hence the division of the groups is not only visuallyindicated by the presence of the finger and the spacing between the twogroups of-a charge row, but will be further distinguished by reason ofthe fact that the units of one group will be located on a horizontalplane from the units of the other group, thus making it asimple matterfor the operator t grasp the proper number of units withoutnecessitating actual counting of a row.

For purposes of convenience in such manual removal f group rows, one ofthe table portions may be shorter than the other, as indicated in Fig.2, thus enabling the operator to more readily grasp the units of a rowon the table of greater length.

While we have shown this particular frame as provided in twocompartments, and it is preferred to concurrently deliver to both, itwill be understood, of course, that a charge may consist of a number ofunits sufficient only to be usable in connection with one of thecompartments, and in such case, it may be desirable to provide theinvention' in the form of but asingle table por tion which, however,carries the feature of automatically inclining each row to the verticalas it passes into position among the accumulated rows in order toproduce this step appearance at the top.

While the arrangements of Figs. 1 and 2 provide for this grouping ofunits and ina manner which permits of ready packaging operations, wemay, and in some cases prefer to employ a structure of the type of Figs.3 and 4, a structure designed more particularly to place the two groupsof a charge row in superposed relation, as indicated for instance inFig. 5; in such position, it is possible to locate a carton over themouth of the compartment containing the diflerent rows and uponwithdrawal 'otthe carton remove.

the desired number of units at a single operation. This result isobtained. by so arranging the bottoms of the two compartments of thetable as to cause them to be located on two'planes spaced apart a distance' sufficient to freely receive a group row on the bottoinof thelatter compartment and shift the units of a row' laterally so as toplace them beneath the units of a row in the other compartment.

In producing a structure capable of meeting these conditions, the bottomof one compartment is laid downward from frame 10, while the bottom ofthe other compartment is laid upward from such plane, the divergingbottoms gradually reaching a point where the distance in these planes isin excess of the vertical length of a unit. When the bottoms reach theseplanes. it is then only necessary to arrange the side walls of the twocompartments on such lines as to cause the'lateral shifting of the rowsof the two compartments and bring the mouths of the two compartments oneabove the other or in vertical alignment. For instance, the rows of thecompartment above finger 15 1n Fig. 4, are gradually raised to producethe upper accumulation of Fig. 3, while the rows below said' finger inFig. 4 gradually drop until reaching the plane of the lower accumulationin Fig. 3, whereupon the outward ivalls of the compartments-indicated at20-causc the rows to be shifted inward as they are advanced. by the.successive movements of plunger 12, the moyements continuing until thesuperposed relation of rows shown in Fi 3 is provided.

find in this. form we prefer-to employ a plurality of yieldable fingers21 at the top and bottom and sides of the open mouth of the doublecompartment structure-as seen in Fig. 4, for instance-the rows passinginto position relative to thesefingers; These era1ly, and-,a dischargeframe into which units are movable when shifted, the discharge framehaving compartments or chutes 'which open at their receiving ends in thesame horizontal plane but which open at "their discharge ends invertically spaced planes.

As will be understood from the above description each frame. is adaptedto group a predetermined number of units in a row i from a charge whichembodies a greater as reserving the right to make any and all number ofunits than the number of such group row, the units of one group beingsegregated from those of the other group while retaining the rowformation in each group, the several groups being delivered on to achute or table in which the units of one group are on a different planefrom the units of the other group, the planes of the several groupsbeing vertically spaced.

As will be understood, the specific structural formation which may beutilized in carrying the general practice of the inven tion may bevaried within comparatively wide limits, and We desire to be understoodchanges or modifications in the diiferent structures disclosed, in'sofar as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the accompanying claims and broadly construed.

I What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for grouping commodity containing units for packaging,wherein a predetermined number of units form a row in the package andwherein such row is segregated from' a charge embodying a greater numberof units than the number contained in said row with the charge unitsgroups with at least one of the groups constituting the desired packagerow, said latter group having its units extending in a plane spaced fromthe units of another group to segregate and present the selected groupin position to be bodily located within the package.

2. 'In apparatus for grouping commodity containing units for packaging,wherein a predetermined number of units form a row in the package andwherein such row is segregated from the charge. embodying a number ofunits equal to a plurality of such pack age rows with the charge unitsarranged and supported in row formation, means for supporting the chargerow, means for shiftin the charge row bodily from the support and in adirection approximately transverse to the direction of length of thecharge row,

and a chute formation located in the path of travel of the chute unitssaid chute formation including a finger adapted to segregate the chargerow into group rows during shifting movements of the charge row, saidchute formation having a configuration to cause units of one group to besupported in accumulated position on a plane vertically spaced from theplane on which the units of another group are positioned.

3. In a machine of the character described, a combination with means forsupporting a row of commodity containing I units, and means for shiftingsaid row of units laterally, of a discharge frame into which theunitsare movable when shifted, said discharge frame having chutesopening at their receiving ends in laterally spaced relation and openingat their discharge ends in the same vertical plane.

5. In a machine of the character described,

the row of commodity containing units, and

' means for shifting said row of units laterally, of a discharge frameinto which the units are movable when shifted, said discharge framehaving chutes opening at their receiving ends in juxtaposed relation,said chutes curving inwardly toward one another and inclining verticallyintheir lengths and terminating at their discharge ends in superposedrelation.

6'. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a mainframe, and means for laterally shifting a row of units on said frame, ofa discharge frame secured to the main frame and having a receiving endof the full width of the shifted row of units, said discharge framehaving a pair of chutes, the base of one of which inclines upwardly andthe base of the other of which inclines downwardly, adjacent the mainframe, each of said chutes receiving half of the row of units and beingcurved in its length toward the center of the discharge frame, saidchutes terminating at the discharge end of the frame in verticallyspaced and aligned relation.

7. In a machine of the character described, a combination with means forsupporting a row of commodity containing units and means for shiftingsaid row of units laterally, of a discharge frame into which the unitsare movable when shifted, said discharge frame having chutes opening attheir receiving ends in the same horizontal plane and opening at theiropposite or discharge ends in vertically spaced planes and means at thedischarge ends of the chute for temporarily supporting the unitcontainer.

8. In a machine of the character described, means for feeding a row ofarticles in the direction of the length of the row, means for laterallyshifting successive groups of units from the row into a discharge frameand concurrently separating the shifted units into subordinate groups insuch manner that the shifting operation will advance the groups carriedby the discharge frame.

9. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a rowof articles means for shifting a portion of the row laterally, means forseparating the-shifted portion into groups and means for arranging thegroups in position for packing.

10. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting anelongated article in vertical position, means for laterally shifting thearticle and a yieldable element pressing upon the upper end of thearticle when shifted, to retain it in vertical position.

11. In a machine of the character described, a chute adapted to conveyarticles in rows with a plurality of articles in each row, fromreceiving to delivery end of said chute, said delivery end having spacedportions with apertures therebetween corresponding to the individualarticles in a row located at said delivery end, to facilitate theremoval of articles carried by the chute.

1'2. In a machine for feeding and arranging articles such as rectangularpackages, means for advancing a row of articles, means for feedingsuccessive sections of the row laterally, each section including asimilar plurality of articles,-a support for supporting and guidingSHCCGSSlXGlIY-ZEGC]. sections, and separated article-holding devices atthe discharge end of said support arranged to engage the ends of theindividual articles of each advancing section and to facilitate graspingthe articles for removal.

13. In mechanism for feeding and arranging articles, such as rectangularpackages, two arranging chutes having aligned entrances and curvedlaterally and vertically to provide discharge openings, one of which islocated above the other, the discharge ends of the chutes being arrangedto receive a container for the articles, means for advancing a row ofarticles opposite the chute entrances, and means for moving thearticlerow into the entrances and dividin the row into sections, one ofwhich passes into each of the chutes.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

